Bob Downs, along with teammate Mark Balderston, became the first two players to earn All-American in JCCC baseball history following the 1974 season.  He was the first player to earn first-team honors, and the first JCCC pitcher to earn All-America accolades.  Downs posted a perfect season of 11-0, and finished with an ERA of 1.26 over 77 2/3 innings.  His 11 season wins and 15 career wins were records until the 2009 season.  Downs took his arm to Northwest Missouri State where he earned MIAA second-team honors.